Gabriella Ruocco

Background

About Gabriella Ruocco

When I was in my second year of my Peace Corps Service in Lesotho, Southern Africa, I started to realize that I cared more about my students' self confidence and well being, rather than if they had the correct answer. After this realization, I sought to obtain my masters degree in social work from the University of Denver to further enhance my curiosity about supporting people and communities. I am a bilingual (English and Spanish) Master level social worker therapist with experience in individual and group clinical skills in supporting individuals living with addiction, co-occurring diagnoses, life transitions, depression, and anxiety. I am trauma sensitive yoga teacher for children and adults with over 300 hours of training in trauma informed somatic practices, meditation, and mindfulness. As an educator with 10 years of experience, I have taught social emotional learning (SEL), English as a new language (ENL), comprehensive sex education, social studies, and literacy to students of all ages in different settings in five countries. As a community engagement facilitator, I blend mindfulness and mental health to strive to create culturally responsive and accessible events. I am passionate about human rights, bodily autonomy, reproductive justice, sexual health, self empowerment, and social emotional development for all ages.